A transsexual weightlifter from New Zealand caused controversy in July by winning mul-tiple gold medals at the 2019 Pacific Games in Samoa.
Laural Hubbard, who was born a man, competed in three heavyweight categories for women weighing more than 192 pounds.
The 41-year-old weightlifter reportedly transitioned while in their mid-30s.
Hubbard was made eligible to compete by passing the International Olympic Committee (IOC) criteria for transsexual athletes.
The Samoa 2019 chairman Loau Solamalemalo Keneti Sio told the Samoa Observer that the decision to allow Hubbard to compete was ‘unfair’ and that the reaction had been ‘understandable’.
‘They have allowed Laurel Hubbard to lift in the women’s category and there is nothing we can do about it,’ Loau said.
‘We all know that it is not fair to the women lifters, but that is a reality we face in the world of sports.’
